Valvular & structural heart disease
Prevalence, spectrum and aetiology of valvular heart disease based on community echocardiographic screening transition from different altitudes in Yunnan, China
Authors' conclusion
Adults living at high altitudes have a higher prevalence risk of VHD; significant altitudinal differences exist in the characteristics and aetiology of VHD.
Study context
- Population
- Community adults aged ≥35 years in Yunnan Province, China, living at different altitudes
- Participants
- 5,059 adults
- Exposure
- Altitude groups vs <2000 m
- Outcome
- Prevalence, spectrum and aetiology of VHD
Methodological detailscommunity-based echocardiographic screening, two sequential screening programmes
- Community-based echocardiographic screening
- Two sequential screening programmes
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Any VHD
Each group vs <2000 mPrevalence ratio (95% CI)
2000-2499 m
1.28(1.15–1.42)
2500-2999 m
1.20(1.02–1.41)
≥3000 m
1.34(1.04–1.72)
- Overall valvular heart disease (VHD) prevalence
- 36.7%
- Clinically significant VHD prevalence
- 2.5%
- Clinically significant regurgitant VHD prevalence
- 2.4%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Aetiology of clinically significant VHD
- Predominantly degenerative at <3000 m; functional most prevalent at ≥3000 m
Subgroup analysis
- High-risk populations: male, minority ethnicity, ≥60 years, high SBP
Original publication
Prevalence, spectrum and aetiology of valvular heart disease based on community echocardiographic screening transition from different altitudes in Yunnan, China. Heart. Published 3 March 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it